UPSC Civil Services Examination

India's most prestigious examination for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Central Services.

About this Exam

The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (objective, 2 papers), Mains (descriptive, 9 papers), and Interview (Personality Test). Only ~1,000 candidates are selected from ~10 lakh applicants each year.

Subjects & Topics Covered

• History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
• Geography (Physical, Indian, World)
• Polity & Governance
• Economics
• Environment & Ecology
• Current Affairs
• Ethics & Integrity
• Essay Writing
• Optional Subject

Preparation Tips

• Read NCERT books (6-12) as the foundation
• Daily newspaper reading (The Hindu, Indian Express)
• Standard reference books: Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (Modern History), GC Leong (Geography)
• Take at least 30 mock tests before Prelims
• Practice answer writing daily for Mains
• Build strong current affairs base for 12+ months